CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Some of the personnel has changed, but the core of the lineup remains.

Beginning with the Phillies' ascension to the top of the National League East in 2007 and continuing with their defense of a fifth consecutive division title this spring, five of the team's eight regulars remain. Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino and Carlos Ruiz.

More often than not, the Phils will win or lose based on the offensive production of those five players -- especially the first four.

But during their five-year-long stranglehold of the National League East, the Phillies have morphed from a team built around MVP-caliber offensive players to one built around Cy Young Award-capable starting pitchers.

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As offense-friendly managers go, you won't find many more hitting-happy than Charlie Manuel, who found a spot behind a batting cage on the first day of pitchers and catchers workouts last week. Although the action was on the mounds at the Carpenter Complex, Manuel wanted to be around the early-arriving hitters in Bright House Field.

Coming off consecutive seasons in which his team has fallen short of its World Series aspirations, Manuel, a former long-time hitting coach, is taking the matter personally. During the first week of camp, Manuel has made it a point to bring those regular players into his office.

Simply put: The offense needs to get better and it's up to Rollins, Utley, Howard and Victorino to right the ship.

"I've talked to almost all of our core players; we want to cut down on the number of at-bats we give away," Manuel said. "We give away a lot of at-bats. We want to turn some of those at-bats we've given away into quality at-bats, what I call team at-bats."

In each of the last two offseasons, the Phillies have heard their hitting approach criticized following unflattering offensive performances in the postseason.

Last October the Phillies scored one run in their final 17 innings of the NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2010, they scored in just two of their final 15 innings in the NLCS against the San Francisco Giants.

Both of those opponents went on to win the World Series, while the Phillies went home. Whether it's those failed opportunities or the fact that none of them are getting any younger -- or both -- the Phils vets appear to be in tune with Manuel's message of taking a smarter approach to their hitting.

Rollins said it comes down to being more aware of situations and being disciplined enough not to swing if the situation dictates.

"The term 'giving away at-bats,' it's more about putting at-bats together that are going to benefit you and the team ... just being able to concentrate," said Rollins, who talked with Manuel in the manager's office for a half hour last week. "It's about being consistent, knowing you can score four to six runs, day in and day out, you're going to win a lot of games with this (pitching) staff.

"If we do that, if we score four, it's just barely enough. If we score six, then we have this super-good offense. The difference is getting a break here and there and knowing the situation in that one at-bat. That will swing a run or two between a good offense and a great offense, and that's all it is. That's what Charlie is talking about in giving away at-bats; if they don't want to pitch to you, don't make an out. The guy behind you, lo and behold, could step up and get a hit."

When evaluating whether the Phillies have underachieved in the last two seasons, it's difficult to ignore the injuries. Rollins, Utley and Howard were in the starting lineup together for 34 games in 2010 and 68 in 2011.

While you can assume some of those injuries lingered in the postseason in both of those years, all three players were active in each of the last two playoffs and capable of producing. Thus, Manuel's call for a team-wide recommitment to smart hitting.

"I want our guys to talk about hitting," Manuel said.

"The communication aspect is very important," Victorino said. "Jimmy and I are similar, so how we approach certain guys, we can come back and communicate that. I'm not saying we haven't done that. We have done it. But there are different mind-sets and guys like (Jim) Thome have come in, a future Hall of Famer, and Charlie has been more involved in the aspects of talking about hitting, how a guy approaches you. Nowadays you have so much stuff you can look at. It's so much information. So I think if we communicate in that respect, that's good."

Since winning their first division title in 2007, the current Phillies group has seen its individual and collective offensive numbers slide.

In 2007, the Phils hit .274 with a .354 on-base percentage and a .812 OPS (on-base plus slugging). They hit 213 home runs and scored 892 runs.

In 2008, that slash line read .255/.332/.770 with 214 home runs and 799 runs. In '09, it was /258/334/.781 with 224 home runs and 820 runs.

In 2010: .260/.332/.745 with 166 home runs and 772 runs. Last season: .253/.323/.717 with 153 home runs and 713 runs.

In summary: Their power numbers and on-base numbers have decreased steadily with each season, leading to lower run outputs. To generate more offense, a better approach at the plate is essential.

"For years, you'd get ahead in the count and the mentality is, 'I get a free swing,'" Rollins said. "But it's only a free swing if you hit the ball fair. You hit the ball foul and you're like, why did I swing at that pitch? And you're lucky you hit the ball foul, because, overall, 2-0, 3-1 swings, it's a ground ball somewhere. Maybe you're looking fastball and it's not the right location. And you're up in the count and you figure you got a free swing. But it's not a free swing if you're walking back to that dugout.

"The point is, when that count is in your favor, you've got to know what you hit best, what you handle best and look for that pitch in that zone. If it's not that pitch in that zone, be disciplined enough not to swing."